Gov. Christie in Ocean City: I Can't Force Someone to Continue to Lose Money

Gov. Chris Christie’s summit on Atlantic City’s future may not take place until Sept. 8, but that doesn’t mean the state isn’t working on a solution daily.

That’s what Christie told a concerned casino worker who said she and her colleagues will lose their jobs prior to that summit, northjersey.com reports.

Cindy Pemberton, a longtime employee at the Showboat, posed her problem to the governor during his appearance at the Music Pier in Ocean City on Thursday.

That appearance followed a pair of protests at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and outside his town hall in Ocean City, which was held as part of his “No Pain, No Gain” tour of the Jersey Shore.

Christie intended to deliver his message about pension and benefits reform.

Christie has promised to reveal a proposal that would help fix the state’s economic situation, which he said may be headed for bankruptcy without reform.

His stated goal is to protect critical investments and fund essential programs.

First he told casino workers he wouldn’t force any private enterprise to remain open, saying he can’t force a business to continue to lose money, according to the report.

He spoke on a range of other issues, noting that he was considering running for president in 2016, according to the report.

Before his trip to Ocean City, he appeared at the Atlantic City Country Club for a fundraiser for LoBiondo, who he endorsed in January. LoBionod is running for re-election against William Hughes Jr., the son of longtime Second District Congressman Willam Hughes Sr.

Everywhere he went in southern New Jersey on Thursday, Christie was confronted with the escalating casino crisis in Atlantic City.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Revel will close on Sept. 10 if no buyer emerges.

In January, the Atlantic Club closed, and Trump Plaza is scheduled to close in September.

Showboat is set to close its doors Aug. 31.

On Thursday, Deutsche Bank predicted there would be six casinos in Atlantic City by 2017. There are currently 11 casinos in business in the town.

For more on the town hall, visit northjersey.com.

The attached photo is a Patch file photo of Gov. Chris Christie